The move gives the Rockets salary-cap relief, while the Bulls take the pay day.

A source says Anthony, 34, will never wear a Bulls uniform. He will be released and — once he clears waivers — become a free agent. The deal is basically a cash grab for the Bulls.

ESPN reported that the Bulls might delay waiving him until the Feb. 7 trade deadline, adding that the Bulls could “include him in a one-for-one trade but can’t aggregate his contract in another deal.”

The deal, which couldn’t officially be completed Monday because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, allows the Rockets to sign Kenneth Faried and get him in their lineup tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Rockets also are waiving Jame Nunnally.

Faried, 29, comes to the Rockets after reaching a buyout agreement with the Brooklyn Nets.

The Houston trade comes five years after the Bulls tried to sign Anthony as a prized free agent in 2014, trying to form a super team with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah.

Anthony turned them down, taking more money to stay with the New York Knicks.

]]>https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-to-acquire-carmelo-anthony-from-rockets-but-plan-to-release-him/feed/0Carmelo Anthony, Justin HolidayBulls beat the Cavs to end 10-game losing streak, but lose in Zion sweepstakeshttps://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-beat-the-cavs-to-end-10-game-losing-streak-but-lose-in-zion-sweepstakes/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-beat-the-cavs-to-end-10-game-losing-streak-but-lose-in-zion-sweepstakes/#respondMon, 21 Jan 2019 21:04:34 +0000http://chicago.suntimes.com/?post_type=cst_article&p=1639755Bulls beat the Cavs to end 10-game losing streak, but lose in Zion sweepstakesCLEVELAND – The Bulls season felt like it went off the tracks when Lauri Markkanen’s right elbow was bent awkwardly back in a training-camp practice.

An injury that cost the highly-touted second-year player nearly 10 weeks, and started a series of events that led to the ugliness of Monday.

Because that’s exactly what Bulls-Cavaliers was on the special Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee at the Quicken Loans Arena: Two organizations with lost regular-seasons, hoping that the draft lottery can completely change their fortunes.

And they didn’t, as the Bulls snapped a painful 10-game losing streak, beating the hapless Cavs 104-88.

A win that messed with the chances of landing Williamson? Slightly, considering the new draft rules that allow the bottom three teams to have the same chance (14 percent) of landing the No. 1 pick.

Cleveland maintained their stranglehold on one of those spots, falling to a league-worst 9-39 record, while the Bulls (11-36) have fallen to the fourth-worst record, but are right there with the Knicks (10-35) and Phoenix Suns (11-37).

More importantly for the Bulls is what’s ahead.

If they are serious about embracing the tank, they have the Hawks coming into town on Wednesday, and then will host the Cavaliers on Jan. 27. All huge when it comes to losing.

Just don’t tell Portis that.

“I get it,’’ Portis said. “Growing up as a kid and then playing in college, you hear the word tanking in the NBA, getting a high draft pick. With the new draft rules this year, it all comes down to the lottery and how that works out. But as a player, we’re trying to go out and compete, help our team, help our family.

“It’s about best foot forward.’’

A concept that Jim Boylen continued preaching, especially throughout the losing the last few weeks.

“It’s part of this business and where we’re at,’’ Boylen said, when asked about having his own fan base hoping for losses to help the lottery standing. “We have to be real with that. What I’m hoping is we can play better basketball … that we can improve. That’s what I’m coaching and teaching and striving for.’’

Made easier when the competition is Cleveland, and the Bulls actually shoot the ball well from long range.

Yes, the 31-18 first-quarter lead definitely helped, but so did hitting on 15-of-30 threes.

“Kind of what the defense was giving us,’’ guard Kris Dunn said of the hot shooting.

Dunn only hit one three on the afternoon, but it was still a huge performance for him considering how poorly he had been playing the last five games.

He only finished with 13 points, but had nine assists and got back to looking like a confident point guard on both ends of the floor once again.

“I just kept grinding through the slump,’’ Dunn said. “Kept coming in, being positive, stay consistent through my work. It’s part of the NBA. I got the same looks I’ve been getting in previous games and [Monday] I knocked them down.

“Get the monkey off our backs. It sucks to lose 10 in-a-row, it’s frustrating. Now we can breathe a little bit and build on it.’’

And by the way, Dunn had a message for all the Bulls fans that want to see more losing and more talk of Williamson.

Against Miami, and then Cleveland on Monday, it was Robin Lopez’s turn.

Welcome to the Bulls starting center position, where it will remain fluid from matchup to matchup, game to game … or at least until the Bulls can find a trading partner for Lopez.

“It’s just decisions,’’ coach Jim Boylen said, when asked how he will handle the vacancy in the starting lineup left by Wendell Carter Jr. “I’ve laid it out for the guys that’s how it’s going to be. I do like Bobby’s energy and competitiveness off the bench. He can be a difficult matchup for a backup in the post and his ability to spread the floor. All those things kind of go into it. We’ll make those decisions as we go.’’

What works out well for Boylen is the two players involved. Both Lopez and Portis are team-first guys, so while each may have a preference, those egos are checked at the door without a second thought.

“I think the role that I started in with this team was off the bench,’’ Portis said of the situation. “I know there’s a coaching decision that goes into starting one player or the other, but I would just rather have Robin start, so that I can just come off the bench and do what I do, do what I’ve been used to. I like that for now.

“I get a chance to sit there and evaluate the game, see how they’re defending certain things we’re doing, so I look at that as a way to see where I can score the ball, be a difference. I’ve always felt that being useful for me. Obviously everybody wants to start, everybody wants to hear their name called at the beginning of the game, but on teams you have to play a role.’’

That role could change yet again for Portis if the Bulls find a deal for Lopez. The problem is right now the market has cooled on that front, but a lot can happen between now and the Feb. 7 trade deadline.

Heck, Portis is even in play as a possible trade candidate, considering he and Lauri Markkanen play the same position and Portis will be a restricted free agent this offseason.

Portis reiterated last week that he feels like he will stay a Bull when negotiations start up again this summer, but considering how the Bulls have played this season, this is a roster that should have no untouchables on it.

The Bulls do have other options in that middle spot if push comes to shove, with Markkanen able to switch over when Boylen wants to go small. And then there’s always Cristiano Felicio, who has fallen out of the rotation these days.

Speaking of Carter Jr.

The seventh-overall pick made it official on Monday, as the Bulls announced after the win over the Cavs that Carter Jr. had successful surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament of his left thumb. The surgery was performed by Dr. John Fernandez at Midwest Orthopedics at Rush.

Carter Jr. suffered the injury last week in Loa Angeles, and after second and third examinations showed that there was a torn ligament, surgery was recommended as the best path. A path that the rookie took, with his recovery time eight-to-12 weeks, which could be the remainder of this season.

Old faces

There were some familiar faces sitting on the home bench Monday, with both Cameron Payne and David Nwaba now on the Cavs roster.

Nwaba (illness/ankle) did not dress, but Payne, who just signed a second10-day contract with Cleveland, played significant minutes off the bench.

On Dec. 3, the Bulls’ vice president of basketball operations had just announced the removal of the latest coach to fail — bringing the total to five under this current front office — and though Paxson stressed how much he liked Fred Hoiberg personally, he had some obvious issues with him as a coach.

“We need to find a spirit to our group that’s been missing and missing for quite some time,’’ Paxson said. “You have to be able to get your identity across to your team, and we just felt that we’re not playing the style with the force that we want our group to play with.’’

After a 10th consecutive loss Saturday, Zach LaVine did not choose his words carefully.

As he first told the Sun-Times on Wednesday, LaVine wants answers on the direction of the franchise he is committed to through the 2021-22 season, barring a trade.

“Something’s obviously wrong,’’ LaVine said after the loss to Miami. “We weren’t losing [by] double-digits earlier in the season. We might have been losing, [but] we didn’t even have a full roster. So I don’t know. We’re a better team now and we’re getting blown out. It doesn’t make a lot of sense.’’

An office that is heavily guarded with soundproof walls and one very stubborn chairman standing out front, who has allowed loyalty to now turn into defiance.

If chairman Jerry Reinsdorf feels general manager Gar Forman is really doing a good job as the team’s main talent evaluator, where’s the proof?

There’s no hardware to back that up.

There’s not a single big-name free agent who has ever said, “Hey, I need to get to the Bulls and play for Forman — that guy is building something special.”

And maybe even more concerning, there’s no evidence Forman understands how one talented player can coexist with another talented player. It’s like watching a small child gathering shiny blocks, and not caring about their shape when it’s time to build with them.

Forman handpicked a coach in Hoiberg whose offense is predicated on outside shooting and never gave him an outside shooter.

And by the way, the term GarPax must stop. Forman and his minions are embedded so deeply throughout the organization that Paxson couldn’t exterminate them all even if he tried. The two are separate entities, with Paxson’s biggest fault being a team player and going out of his way to align himself in a united front with Forman.

So we can all keep debating Jim Boylen and his offense or Parker’s minutes, keep blinking through that smoke.

Want change? Someone with a pulse and some power at the Advocate Center must remove Forman from that post, call the Nets and beg their assistant GM — and former Duke Blue Devil — Trajan Langdon to move to Chicago for a better title, a more spacious office and fatter paycheck.

A 117-103 loss to the Heat on Saturday was the team’s season-worst 10th in a row. It’s the second 10-game skid in as many seasons for the Bulls, whose all-time record of futility is a 16-game skid during the 2000-01 season.

Their last victory was Dec. 28 against the Wizards. The Bulls have allowed 100-plus points in nine consecutive games.

“We’ve just got to get that win,” said Kris Dunn, who shot 3-for-14 and had six points. “Get that one win and be able to clear our heads and stop the madness.”

The latest letdown took place despite another good performance by Lauri Markkanen, who had 20 points and nine rebounds. Zach LaVine led the team with 22 points, and Bobby Portis contributed 21 points in 24 minutes off the bench.

Wendell Carter Jr. is weighing his options after the Bulls’ medical staff recommended that he undergo surgery on his left thumb, which could end his rookie season after 44 games.

“He’s meeting with his family and his representation and our medical staff, so we’ll let you know when that gets figured out,” said coach Jim Boylen, who indicated that a decision could come by Monday. “Obviously, [we’re] very disappointed for him and our team. Our heart’s broken for him. Forty-four games in, he’s done everything that we’ve asked him to do from a competitive standpoint and a development standpoint. That’s a gut-wrencher.”

Carter, 19, has averaged 10.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 25.2 minutes. He was injured Tuesday against the Lakers, and a follow-up exam showed the extent of the damage to his thumb.

“I think he can be a dynamic defender, a multiposition defender,” Boylen said. “He has the ability to play with his back to the basket, the ability to play in the pocket in pick-and-roll, and he’s an improving shooter. He made some threes. His fundamentals on his shot have improved since he’s been here. That will only get better after he heals up. . . . There’s a lot to build on.”

‘Much love’

Robin Lopez delivered a pregame speech to fans on the Bulls’ inaugural “Pride Night” to recognize the LGBTQ communities.

“We invite and encourage you to celebrate diversity, acceptance and equality not just tonight in this arena, but every day in your homes, workplaces and communities,” Lopez told the crowd. “We thank you for being here. Much love.”

Players wore Pride-themed shirts during warmups.

Former NBA player Jason Collins, who in 2013 became the first active player in men’s professional sports to come out as gay, is scheduled to speak with Bulls players and staff members in February.

]]>https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-hope-to-stop-the-madness-as-skid-hits-10/feed/0screen shot 2019-01-19 at 10.40.39 pmHeat’s Dwyane Wade savors final game in Chicagohttps://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/heats-dwyane-wade-savors-final-game-in-chicago/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/heats-dwyane-wade-savors-final-game-in-chicago/#respondSun, 20 Jan 2019 01:57:17 +0000http://chicago.suntimes.com/?post_type=cst_article&p=1636354Heat’s Dwyane Wade savors final game in ChicagoDwyane Wade is congratulated by Robin Lopez in the closing moments of the Bulls' 112-107 win over the Kings on Feb. 6, 2017, in Sacramento, Calif. Rich Pedroncelli/APThe memories returned to Dwyane Wade as he stood in the visitors’ locker room for the last time as a player.

He remembered growing up on the South Side with drugs and gangs all around. He remembered moving to Robbins as a young boy and idolizing Michael Jordan and the Bulls. He remembered allowing himself to imagine a way out, a path to success and maybe even stardom.

“A lot of us had a ball and a dream,” Wade said. “And that ball and dream have taken us so many places.”

Now 37, Wade has announced he will retire at the end of the season. Although he spent only one of his 16 NBA seasons playing for the Bulls, few could argue his emotional connection to Chicago and vice versa.

The Bulls honored Wade with a tribute video in the first quarter. Players from the Bulls and Heat craned their necks to watch the highlights of Wade’s 2016-17 season with the Bulls on the court and in the community.

Fans then gave a standing ovation to Wade, who smiled and waved both arms to the crowd.

“This city, this Chicago Bulls name, it means a lot to me,” Wade said. “It will always mean a lot to me.”

Wade might be the greatest player ever from the Chicago area. He said otherwise, pointing to Isiah Thomas as the city’s best all-time player. Then he mentioned other homegrown talents from his era, including Corey Maggette and Quentin Richardson.

“Young D-Rose, I remember seeing him in seventh grade playing in open gym,” Wade said. “Everybody was like, ‘Man, he’s going to be something one day.’ You take a look at him, and then a couple of years later, he’s in the NBA playing against you.

“[There are] so many players who have come through this city that I love to watch and respect because I know how we grew up and how we had to learn to fend for ourselves and what it took to become successful.”

Bulls coach Jim Boylen has a picture in his office showing Hall of Famers he has known or coached. Wade is in the picture.

“I remember the first day when he came here, how respectful he was to the coaches [about] his opportunity and what we were trying to do,” Boylen said. “He’s a pro’s pro, a classy guy. I’m thankful I got a chance to be around him.”

Wade’s return offered a bright spot in an otherwise dismal season for Bulls fans.

But the future Hall of Famer offered a message to Bulls fans: Stay loyal.

“This is your team,” Wade said. “You continue to support your team as they go through this journey to get back to the top.

“This organization has won six championships. You’ve got most organizations in the NBA that will never win six titles. The success that this organization has had will not be touched by many at all. Of course, everyone wants it always. But it averages out. . . .

“I think the Bulls are trying to right the wrong. They’ve got some talented young players here, very talented young players. They’re trying to get it right. And you don’t know if you’ve got it right until you’ve got it right.”

If and when the Bulls get it right, Wade will be watching.

“I’ll be looking, as I get done playing this game of basketball, hoping they do,” Wade said. “Hoping they do get the chance to go back to the Eastern Conference finals and go back to the NBA Finals one day for this city.”

]]>https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/heats-dwyane-wade-savors-final-game-in-chicago/feed/0screen shot 2019-01-19 at 7.55.13 pmIt might be a mistake to downplay the loss of Justin Holiday for fading Bullshttps://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/it-might-be-a-mistake-to-downplay-the-loss-of-justin-holiday-for-fading-bulls/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/it-might-be-a-mistake-to-downplay-the-loss-of-justin-holiday-for-fading-bulls/#respondFri, 18 Jan 2019 20:43:37 +0000http://chicago.suntimes.com/?post_type=cst_article&p=1633528It might be a mistake to downplay the loss of Justin Holiday for fading BullsMaybe it was the frustration of nine consecutive losses or the fact that he was a combined 8-for-26 in his last two games.

In any case, when asked about the Bulls’ defensive problems since Justin Holiday was traded to the Grizzlies on Jan. 3, guard Zach LaVine wasn’t exactly heaping credit on Holiday.

“I mean, Justin is a good player, but I don’t think it’s just Justin, you know?” LaVine said. “I don’t know what it is. Justin is a real good player, but I don’t think he’s something like where you take him off the team and he’s like LeBron James.”

No, he’s not. But the numbers since Holiday’s departure are eye-popping. The Bulls were 5-9 and allowed an average of 103.3 points in the 14 games in which coach Jim Boylen had Holiday in the starting lineup after Fred Hoiberg was fired Dec. 3. With rookie Chandler Hutchison taking over Holiday’s role of main defensive stopper since the trade, the Bulls are 0-7 and have allowed an almost ridiculous 122.6 points per game.

It’s a small sample size, sure, but one that can’t be ignored.

“I think one thing is we traded one of our best defensive players, and we’re looking for someone else to step up,” Boylen said. “That’s an issue. We had a veteran guy that could guard, he’s a lockdown defender, and we’re looking for our young guys to grow into that role. We’ve had moments where they have. . . . We’re learning about them, they’re learning what they have to do better, and that’s all a part of this season — a season of discovering what we have, what they can do and what they need to work on.”

Hutchison has been doing his best to pick up Holiday’s minutes, but going from Boise State to guarding the best-scoring wings in the world each night is a big ask. Wayne Selden, who came over in the Holiday deal, has seen his minutes increase off the bench, but again, he’s no Holiday defensively.

“Of course we miss [Holiday], but we can’t look back on that,” forward Lauri Markkanen said. “We’ve just got to try and replace him.’’

The Bulls do so under a cloud of concern: If losing a player like Holiday can completely disrupt the outcome of games, how talented was this roster in the first place?

“We have our game plan and what we want to do, but it’s not about that,” Markkanen said. “We’ve got to play tougher.

“I feel like we’re not playing as tough as we played when [Boylen] first started as head coach. We’ve got to fix that for sure. I still feel like everything starts with defense.”

The team announced Friday that the rookie starter has a significant injury to his left thumb. Carter, last year’s No. 7 overall draft pick, was examined by the Bulls’ hand specialists, Drs. John Fernandez and Mark Cohen, who recommendedligament surgery that would sideline him eight to 12 weeks — or basically the rest of the season.

It was a crazy turn of events after Carter was first hurt Tuesday night in Los Angeles, bending the thumb back as he fell to the court. Initially, it was feared he had torn a ligament after X-rays showed instability. But an MRI exam done Wednesday morning seemed to indicate it was just a sprain and Carter would be day-to-day. He even tried to participate in Thursday’s shootaround in Denver before the Bulls’ blowout loss to the Nuggets.

With the Bulls back home in Chicago, Carter was sent to see the specialists before practice Friday, and the news turned bad.

It’s a huge gut-punch for the Bulls, given the focus on Carter’s development and the edge he brought to a team that lacks any real defenders. In the 44 games he has started, he has averaged 10.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and a team-leading 1.3 blocks.

]]>https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-rookie-big-man-wendell-carter-jr-could-be-headed-for-thumb-surgery/feed/0carter1The Bulls’ blame line should be long after latest embarrassmenthttps://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/the-line-of-blame-should-be-long-for-the-bulls-after-this-latest-embarrassment/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/the-line-of-blame-should-be-long-for-the-bulls-after-this-latest-embarrassment/#respondFri, 18 Jan 2019 05:09:59 +0000http://chicago.suntimes.com/?post_type=cst_article&p=1632546The Bulls’ blame line should be long after latest embarrassmentDENVER — The line to the mirror started with Kris Dunn.

By the time Thursday’s beatdown by the Nuggets was over, the line could’ve stretched well outside the door to the visiting locker room.

Despite Lauri Markkanen’s 27 points, the Bulls ended their winless five-game trip with a 135-105 loss to the Nuggets. It was their ninth consecutive defeat.

Earlier in the day, Dunn admitted that during a morning film session after the loss to the Lakers, he addressed the team, letting everyone in the room know that he deserved to be held accountable for yet another stumble in the standings.

“This year, they know what I bring to the table,’’ Dunn said. “I bring that energy and defense. I feel like they know I didn’t have it [in Los Angeles]. As a leader, I have to let them know that’s on me. I didn’t bring the best of my abilities. As a professional, you can’t do that. You have to bring it each game. That’s what I’m learning.

“I just feel like I needed to tell my team that.’’

So who’s going to step up and apologize for this latest showing when the film starts playing Friday morning in Chicago?

Dunn again? A case can be made, especially after he shot 3-for-8 and had only six points and three assists.

What about Zach LaVine, who went scoreless in the first half and finished 4-for-15 for eight points?

“I mean, this is the longest losing streak I’ve been a part of,’’ LaVine said. “We have to figure out what’s going on, man, because it’s not going to stop. People licking their chops, looking at us, looking at us on the schedule, marking this game off, so it’s not like it’s going to stop.

“I’m upset with myself, the way I’ve played the last two games. My role on the team is to go out there and provide offense and create for the team, and I didn’t have it at all. I sucked, you know. I have to do a better job. I’m upset with myself and the team.’’

The Bulls (10-35) played one of their better first quarters of the trip, actually holding a 30-28 lead. But after being outscored 33-17 in the second quarter, they fell apart in the third, letting Denver (30-14) outscore them 42-26.

The Nuggets went 20-for-39 from three-point range; the Bulls went 10-for-28.

“I thought they had great shot-making over the top of us, and we don’t have that,’’ coach Jim Boylen said. “We don’t have great shot-making over the top of people, so we have to do it a different way right now.

“At times we’re playing real hard. But there were moments where we let their shot-making affect our effort and our energy, and I didn’t like that.’’

He hurt his left thumb in the Bulls’ loss to the Lakers, and X-rays after the game initially indicated a possible fracture, which would’ve sidelined him six to eight weeks.

“I was kind of scared, honestly, that I wouldn’t be out there for my team,’’ Carter said Thursday. “I would be sidelined. It just looked bad in terms of so many people having gotten injured this year, and it would be just like another one that’s gotten injured. I’m glad it wasn’t true, but it was definitely weighing on my mind that whole night.’’

MRI results, however, revealed only a sprain. He missed the road finale against the Nuggets but already was insisting that he might be ready to go Saturday against the Heat.

He did try to gut it out in the shootaround to make himself available for the Nuggets.

“I was just favoring it, just trying to make sure the ball didn’t hit it funny or stuff like that,’’ Carter said.

“I feel like that could put my team in jeopardy. I don’t want to be the one out there that’s not able to grab the ball with two hands or do things like that. I didn’t want to be a liability on the defensive end or offensive end.’’

With Carter out, coach Jim Boylen started Bobby Portis. The whole episode might turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Carter.

He had started all 44 games and admittedly was starting to feel the rookie wall. So a little breather wouldn’t be the worst thing.

“It’s definitely a long season,’’ Carter said. “That’s the first thing. We’re pretty much done with a college season, and we’re halfway through. It’s definitely taken a wear on my body, but this is what I’ve been dreaming about doing all my life, so I would rather be doing this than anything else.’’

Free Jabari Parker!

Jabari Parker has worked his way out of the doghouse and back into the rotation, but he has to keep proving himself to Boylen in practices.

‘‘The expectations were laid out to him,’’ Boylen said. ‘‘Practice is important to me. Your approach is important to me. And he’s done a good job. I told him I’m proud of him. It’s good.

“He’s practiced well. That’s one thing. He’s been engaged in practice. And his energy level has been good. In the games, he has driven the ball. He has taken good shots. He has facilitated for his teammates. And he’s trying defensively.’’

Staying the course

Besides Portis being in the lineup for Carter, Boylen had hinted after the loss to the Lakers that he would evaluate changing the starting lineup.

It hasn’t happened, but he’s still thinking about it.

“I just think it’s something that has to be evaluated on a nightly basis,’’ Boylen said.

]]>https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-rookie-wendell-carter-jr-will-be-out-thursday-night-against-the-nuggets/feed/0carter1Bulls guard Zach LaVine hopes to have some say with the front office this summerhttps://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-guard-zach-lavine-hopes-to-have-some-say-with-the-front-office-this-summer/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-guard-zach-lavine-hopes-to-have-some-say-with-the-front-office-this-summer/#respondWed, 16 Jan 2019 23:17:59 +0000http://chicago.suntimes.com/?post_type=cst_article&p=1629830Bulls guard Zach LaVine hopes to have some say with the front office this summerLOS ANGELES – An eight-game losing streak, a current five-city trip that feels more like a death march, and now the news of rookie Wendell Carter Jr.

It seems the Bulls starting center fell during the first half of the Lakers loss, bent his left thumb back, and after an MRI was conducted Wednesday morning, the concern was that he tore a ligament, which would have required surgery or at least a cast for the next four-to-six weeks, depending on the severity of the tear. But luckily, the MRI revealed no tear, and Carter’s status is day-to-day.

And oh by the way, Carter Jr’s left knee was also bothering him, so according to coach Jim Boylen, they figured since he was in the MRI tube for the thumb, go ahead and scan the knee.

Results were expected to be announced on Thursday.

No wonder Zach LaVine wasn’t in the best of moods when afternoon practice at UCLA came to an end.

When the Bulls matched the four-year, $78-million contract offer from the Sacramento Kings this offseason, they did so feeling it was a solid investment in the then-restricted free agent. When LaVine put pen to paper, inking that deal, he did so feeling like Year 2 of the rebuild would be a serious move forward for his organization.

A 10-34 record, a coaching change, and now another date with the lottery? Not exactly what he had in mind.

That’s why LaVine very candidly told the Sun-Times that he would evaluate how the rest of the season goes, but will definitely test how much power that new contract gives him.

“You mean having a little bit of a say so?’’ LaVine said. “I think I have a good relationship with the front office and the coaching staff, but we’ll see how good this summer. I’m not worried about that right now, but let this play out and those times will change once that time comes.’’

What LaVine has already gaged is that for this thing to move forward the Bulls need star power. More than they definitely have right now.

“Hell, we’re going to need that eventually, because if what we’re doing right now isn’t working something has to change,’’ LaVine said. “I think we’ll evaluate that in the summer time. Regardless, I’m going to keep going out here and try and do the best I can for this team and myself. That’s all I can do until we get to that offseason.’’

The organization was hoping that LaVine would continue doing what he’s shown he can do, but there was hope that Lauri Markkanen would take a huge jump in Year 2, Kris Dunn would continue to grow at the point guard spot, and the addition of Carter Jr. would help button up the defense because of his ability to play the role of rim protector.

Very little of that has gone right.

Markkanen was sidelined for 10 weeks with a badly sprained right elbow suffered in training camp, and now seems to be in a rut of forgetting his aggressiveness. Dunn has battled knee and ankle injuries, and now Carter could miss significant time.

LaVine is averaging 23.2 points a game and insisted several times he’s trying to do everything he can, but the lack of winning and help on a nightly basis has an expiration date, specifically this offseason come exit meetings.

“It feels like my rookie year again right now, but I’m just older in the process of it,’’ LaVine said. “We have a lot of young guys and when you’re younger, like 19 or 20, you’re working on your game. But when you’re a few years in, and you have goals, I’m not going to lie this is getting tough, man. I’m trying to stay locked in and level-headed, but this is getting tough.’’

]]>https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-guard-zach-lavine-hopes-to-have-some-say-with-the-front-office-this-summer/feed/0lavine2Bulls rookie Wendell Carter Jr. is day-to-day with thumb injuryhttps://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/wendell-carter-jr-injury-nba-chicago-bulls/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/wendell-carter-jr-injury-nba-chicago-bulls/#respondWed, 16 Jan 2019 22:56:21 +0000http://chicago.suntimes.com/?post_type=cst_article&p=1629752AP PhotosBulls rookie Wendell Carter Jr. is day-to-day with thumb injuryWendell Carter Jr., pictured in the Bulls' recent game against the Warriors, is believed to have torn a ligament in his thumb. | AP Photo/Ben MargotThe news was better than expected.

The Bulls announced that Wendell Carter Jr. does not have a ligament tear in his thumb, and he is listed as day-to-day.

Carter was believed to have suffered a ligament tear in his thumb that could have kept him out for several weeks. The rookie underwent an MRI on Wednesday after playing 28 minutes against the Lakers the night before.

Carter, the Bulls’ seventh overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, has started all 44 games so far for the Bulls this season, averaging 10.3 points and seven rebounds per game. The 6-10 center recorded six points and 10 rebounds in the Bulls’ 107-100 loss to the Lakers.

The rookie’s injury is the latest piece of bad news in a disheartening stretch for the Bulls, who have lost eight straight. Either Bobby Portis or Robin Lopez will likely replace Carter in the starting lineup against Denver on Thursday.

]]>https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/wendell-carter-jr-injury-nba-chicago-bulls/feed/0Wendell Carter Jr., Klay ThompsonScottie Pippen says Duke star Zion Williamson should sit out until NBA Drafthttps://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/scottie-pippen-zion-williamson-shut-it-down-nba-draft/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/scottie-pippen-zion-williamson-shut-it-down-nba-draft/#respondWed, 16 Jan 2019 20:50:30 +0000http://chicago.suntimes.com/?post_type=cst_article&p=1629453AP PhotosScottie Pippen says Duke star Zion Williamson should sit out until NBA DraftScottie Pippen says Zion Willamson should sit out the rest of his season. | AP Photo/Chuck BurtonZion Williamson took the college basketball world by storm during his first few months at Duke, and it’s left Scottie Pippen wondering what else the high-flying forward has to accomplish at that level.

Rather than do anything to risk his status as the expected No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Pippen said during an appearance on ESPN’s “The Jump” that Williamson should “shut it down” for the rest of his freshman season.

“I think he’s done enough for college basketball, that it’s more about him personally now,” Pippen said. “I think for him as a young player, I would shut it down. I would stop playing, because I feel that he could risk a major injury that could really hurt his career.”

Williamson, 18, looks to be one of the most unique prospects to enter the NBA Draft in years. He’s been a dominant scorer in his first year at Duke by averaging 21.1 points on 66.2 percent shooting while grabbing 9.4 rebounds per game. Teamed up with fellow freshman R.J. Barrett, another likely top-10 pick in this year’s draft, the Blue Devils have won 14 of their first 16 games to open the season.

Pippen, who played in college at Central Arkansas, got picked by the Sonics with the fifth pick in the 1987 NBA Draft before being traded to the Bulls, so he’s familiar with the process. Pippen went on to become a seven-time All-Star and six-time champion in the 1990s.

]]>https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/scottie-pippen-zion-williamson-shut-it-down-nba-draft/feed/0Duke Wake Forest BasketballBulls big man Robin Lopez says all is good between himself and Kris Dunnhttps://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-big-man-robin-lopez-says-all-is-good-between-himself-and-kris-dunn/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-big-man-robin-lopez-says-all-is-good-between-himself-and-kris-dunn/#respondWed, 16 Jan 2019 04:24:04 +0000http://chicago.suntimes.com/?post_type=cst_article&p=1628049Bulls big man Robin Lopez says all is good between himself and Kris DunnLOS ANGELES – Robin Lopez has no issues with Kris Dunn.

Sure, the Bulls big man had to be removed from practice on Monday after he and Dunn had a heated exchange, but let’s not forget that it was Lopez who got into a shoving altercation last month in Oklahoma City defending Dunn.

That felt so long ago, especially after the Bulls lost their eighth-straight game on Tuesday, this time falling to the Los Angeles Lakers 107-100.

“Kris and I were just hanging out in the training room,’’ Lopez said, finally addressing what happened 24 hours earlier. “Kris is my dude. I’ll always have his back, and I think he’ll always have my back.

“I was just a little fired up playing basketball. I got a little too heated. It happens sometimes, and it went that way.’’

Lopez was also asked if all the rumors surrounding him had been building up and maybe led to him having a slight meltdown, and insisted that was not the case.

“Any of that stuff, you know me, whatever is going to happen is going to happen,’’ Lopez said.

And the fact is Lopez has no idea what’s going to happen. He was being discussed in trade talks two weeks ago, but those talks have quieted right now, according to a source. Then there was a report about the Bulls refusing to negotiate a buyout for Lopez right now, which is a stance they should be taking until after the Feb. 7 trade deadline passes.

“I’m not too worried about that,’’ Lopez said about all the rumors surrounding him. “I’m focused on what I’ve got going on right in front of me with these guys. I’m invested in these guys, they’re invested in me.’’

They just might not be invested in his playing time.

Coach Jim Boylen hinted that Lopez could see reduced minutes, as the staff wants to see some different combinations in the frontcourt. And reduced minutes he saw, sitting the entire game.

“Everybody thinks they contribute positively to a team,’’ Lopez said. “I’m no different, but whatever is going on I’m going to roll with the punches, I’m going to do whatever I can to help the team from the bench then.’’

As far as Boylen was concerned, he was hoping that the heated practices continue, as long as they don’t escalate. He was also hoping they would help lead to some positives on the scoreboard. That didn’t happen, as the Bulls are now 10-34.

“I felt like it was like a galvanizing thing to be honest with you,’’ Boylen said of the heated exchange. “I kind of enjoyed it. That’s what teams do. We want to make each other better. That’s not going to happen being nice guys to each other all the time.’’

Free Jabari?

It now seems that former Simeon High School standout Jabari Parker has worked his way out of the doghouse and back into the rotation.

According to Boylen, the forward has met the criteria that was asked of him, and the staff wanted to see what he could do now that he’s finally decided to get in better shape.

Boylen was asked why it’s taken Parker so long to fall in line, and didn’t have an answer on that.

“I don’t know,’’ Boylen said. “That’s probably a good question for him. I just laid out what I wanted from him, my expectations. He accepted those, he listened to those. He played good minutes in Utah, so I’m thankful for that, I’m happy for him. We hope he plays hard and keeps growing. That’s all we can do. I don’t think it’s a game-by-game thing right now.’’

]]>https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-big-man-robin-lopez-says-all-is-good-between-himself-and-kris-dunn/feed/0lopez3Bulls big man Bobby Portis says betting on himself this fall was still worth ithttps://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-big-man-bobby-portis-says-betting-on-himself-this-fall-was-still-worth-it/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-big-man-bobby-portis-says-betting-on-himself-this-fall-was-still-worth-it/#respondTue, 15 Jan 2019 22:17:08 +0000http://chicago.suntimes.com/?post_type=cst_article&p=1627411Bulls big man Bobby Portis says betting on himself this fall was still worth itLOS ANGELES — Right now, it looks like Bulls forward Bobby Portis made a bad bet.

First, a sprained ligament in his right knee cost him 23 games. He rehabbed back from that, got in five games, then was back in the training room every day trying to get over an injured right ankle.

After seven more games on the shelf, and with his minutes restrictions finally being relaxed against the Warriors last Friday, Portis injured his right elbow when NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant appeared to take a swing at him in a pick-and-roll situation. That cost him another game — the Bulls’ loss to the Jazz on Saturday.

Tuesday night’s game against the Lakers was just the 13th for Portis in a season that started with him turning down a contract extension and betting on himself to earn more value.

So, should he have taken that money back in October?

“Nah,” he said. “Obviously I’ve had some injuries up to this point, but I still feel like everything is lined up. It’s about me just staying healthy now and me doing my thing. The wins and losses obviously come and go from game to game. You really can’t control that part all the time. We control our effort.

“But me, personally, I just need to stay healthy, be on the court, play as hard as I can when I can. With the minutes that coach Jim [Boylen] gives me, go out there and play with force. . . . I’m just focused on my team, turning this around, and going out there and having fun. Enjoy the ride the rest of the year.”

While Portis has shown he can be a valuable piece off the bench, the Bulls aren’t winning any more or less when he’s playing. When it comes to the standings, this rebuild has been two years of bad, and no one on the roster has achieved superstar status.

Portis has at least been identified as a player the Bulls want to move forward with. But at what price?

As they did with forward Nikola Mirotic and guard Zach LaVine in back-to-back offseasons, the Bulls likely will let Portis — a restricted free agent after this season — see what the market price is for his services and then act accordingly. Portis said he’s prepared for every scenario, but he didn’t try to hide where he wants to be when all the posturing is done. He’s also confident the feeling is mutual.

“Obviously, I know that I really want to stay a Bull,” he said. “I can’t see myself in any other jersey. It would be weird to start the next season off in another uniform. I’ve been here for four seasons now — time flies fast — but I think I will be a Bull. . . . I’m the longest-tenured Bull and don’t want that to change.”

That he’s the longest-tenured Bull is shocking in itself.

“Yeah, that’s crazy,” he said with a laugh. “To be around this long . . . obviously ‘Bulls’ across my chest means a lot to me. I really take pride in that every time I step on the court. But at the same time, I feel like I’ve got a long way to go.”

]]>https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-big-man-bobby-portis-says-betting-on-himself-this-fall-was-still-worth-it/feed/0portis1Days of Our Bulls: Robin Lopez has to be removed from a chippy Monday practicehttps://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/days-of-our-bulls-robin-lopez-has-to-be-removed-from-a-chippy-monday-practice/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/days-of-our-bulls-robin-lopez-has-to-be-removed-from-a-chippy-monday-practice/#respondMon, 14 Jan 2019 23:48:17 +0000http://chicago.suntimes.com/?post_type=cst_article&p=1625502Days of Our Bulls: Robin Lopez has to be removed from a chippy Monday practiceSANTA MONICA, Calif. — Bulls center Robin Lopez is available to any NBA team that wants to trade for him and is willing to part with draft assets.

He just wasn’t available to the media Monday.

Did all the trade talk get to him? The buyout rumors hovering over him? Nope. Neither had anything to do with Lopez needing a mental day.

At least on the surface.

Bulls coach Jim Boylen said he spoke with Lopez before practice at Santa Monica High School and told him that his minutes likely would be reduced as the Feb. 7 trade deadline approaches.

Did that add fuel to a fire that was already burning? Maybe.

Either way, Boylen said practice got “very, very competitive” — code for chippy. At one point, Boylen had to send -Lopez out of the gym for close to 10 minutes to cool down after a run-in with guard Kris Dunn.

“Just competitive people, man,” Boylen said. “It got physical, and guys have pride. Guys want to get better, and I’m pushing this team to compete every day. Pushing it to play hard. That Bulls across the chest means something. That starts in practice, that starts with iron sharpening iron, making each other better. That’s what we’re trying to do. We did that [Monday].”

This is the Bulls, so asking if punches were thrown isn’t out of line.

“No, no punches thrown,” Boylen said. “Guys came back [into practice] and treated each other with respect, and, yeah, this happens every day in our league and happens on good teams that I’ve been on. Competitive people in a competitive environment trying to get better. Good day for us.”

He has done his best to play the good soldier during the rebuild the last two seasons. He has seen his playing time reduced more than a few times, and Boylen said it’s likely to happen again.

When asked if he knew what was wearing on Lopez that would get him so angry in practice, Boylen said, “I’m going to play some different lineups. I’m going to play some different people. We’ve gone Bobby [Portis]-Lauri [Markkanen], we’ve gone Jabari [Parker]-Lauri, we’ll go Jabari-Bobby at some point, so those lineups don’t include him.

“He’s got pride and he wants to play, but he’s all for the team and he understands. You don’t expect guys to be happy with their situation or their minutes or whatever. That’s not part of this league. What’s part of this league is you’ve got to do what’s best for this team, and you got to do what the coaches ask you to do. RoLo has always done that.”

At least in a Bulls uniform, but for how much longer?

There were some heated trade talks about Lopez a few weeks ago, but the Sun-Times has learned they mostly have quieted down. Buying out Lopez isn’t an option yet because the Bulls don’t want teams to think he could be had by just waiting.

So Lopez is back in limbo.

“There’s kind of been a little shoe-dangling over the past couple years,” Lopez said recently when asked if he thought he was the next trade shoe to drop after Justin Holiday was sent to the Grizzlies.

But until there’s some clarity with Lopez’s situation, teammates beware.

]]>https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/days-of-our-bulls-robin-lopez-has-to-be-removed-from-a-chippy-monday-practice/feed/0lopez2Bulls’ front office still looking to trade Robin Lopez before Feb. 7 deadlinehttps://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-front-office-still-looking-to-trade-robin-lopez-before-the-feb-7-deadline/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-front-office-still-looking-to-trade-robin-lopez-before-the-feb-7-deadline/#respondMon, 14 Jan 2019 06:53:56 +0000http://chicago.suntimes.com/?post_type=cst_article&p=1623889Bulls’ front office still looking to trade Robin Lopez before Feb. 7 deadlineLOS ANGELES — The Bulls aren’t looking to play hardball with Robin Lopez as much as they are just trying to conduct smart business.

So while there was a Yahoo Sports report out late Sunday night that stated the Bulls were refusing to negotiate a buyout with their veteran center so that he could possibly join the Golden State Warriors, looking to trade Lopez before the Feb. 7 trade deadline has been atop their priority list for the last few months and will stay there.

This is about trying to collect draft assets first and foremost. The same reason they traded Justin Holiday to Memphis at the start of the month, getting back two future second-round picks, as well as Wayne Selden. The same approach they have been trying to take with Jabari Parker, as they look to move the disgruntled forward.

As for Lopez, he has stated all along that he was staying out of the business of basketball, and while he’s had frequent discussions with his agent this season, his focus is on the court.

“I’m looking to play basketball,’’ Lopez said last week. “That’s what I’m here to do, that’s what I enjoy doing. I like playing with these guys, so whatever happens I’m going to go out there and work for my teammates.’’

Lopez said that he has spoken to management, but the veteran isn’t the type to dwell on what ifs.

He’s been very matter-of-fact in what he asks of his players since taking over the Bulls coaching seat from Fred Hoiberg on Dec. 3, and if those requests aren’t met there are consequences.

If Boylen sees a fourth quarter in which guys look winded, they are running suicides in practice the next day. If mistakes are made in practice, there are pushups handed out. If a player doesn’t want to show effort on both ends of the floor, well, he’ll probably find himself sitting at the end of the bench on game night right next to Jabari Parker.

There are exceptions, however, especially when it comes to a starting unit where the average age [22.5] isn’t old enough to rent a car.

“I mean experience is the best teacher,’’ guard Zach LaVine said.

That’s what Boylen is holding on to, and that’s why the coach will continue riding the starting group of LaVine, Kris Dunn, Wendell Carter Jr., Lauri Markkanen and Chandler Hutchison as they learn to sink or swim together.

“I think there’s some force-feeding going on, and then there’s going to come a point where … we are young, our starting group is 22.5 years old. That’s the reality of it, that’s not an excuse, and we’ve got to learn how to win,’’ Boylen said, when asked if changes need to be made to that group. “We’ll probably give them some opportunity to show us they can do it.’’

They sure didn’t Saturday night in Utah, as the bench had one of its better showings since Boylen took over, doing all they could to hand the baton off to the starters for the final sprint.

It turned into yet another stumble.

With just over seven minutes left in the game and just a three-point deficit, Boylen went back to most of his starters – Wayne Selden stayed in a bit longer for Hutchison – and then watched the group allow Utah to go on a 13-3 run over the next five minutes.

Too much isolation ball, not enough physicality on the boards, and just a lack of that killer instinct that Boylen has been trying to reinforce.

“It is disappointing,’’ Boylen said. “We’ve got to get that killer mentality, we’ve got to make those plays. I thought we had the plays to make, and we didn’t make them. I thought we had the opportunity to score the ball and we didn’t do it. Then you’ve got to rebound it in the fourth and you’ve got to get stops.’’

It’s not like this unit hasn’t shown it can do it.

The home loss to Indiana in overtime last week was a thing of beauty for the Bulls, especially with the core three of LaVine, Markkanen and Dunn all having special moments in that game.

But this isn’t the business of showing up once every three or four games, or relying on two rookies in Carter Jr. and Hutchison to carry-out late game heroics.

No, this falls on Markkanen, Dunn and LaVine to figure it out in what is a key developmental year for the trio.

“I keep repeating myself, it just comes down to plays and us not making them at the right time,’’ LaVine said. “We got to get better at [executing]. We’ve got to find ways to get good shots. We had a couple good ones [against the Jazz]. I know I did, and I’ve got to capitalize on them. I’m upset that I didn’t do that for the team, but we’re going out there fighting.’’

And for now, Boylen has little choice but allow them to.

]]>https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-coach-jim-boylen-will-show-patience-with-starters-at-least-for-now/feed/0lavine1Windy City Bulls wore these cool sign language uniforms on Deaf Awareness Nighthttps://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/windy-city-bulls-wore-these-cool-sign-language-uniforms-on-deaf-awareness-night/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/windy-city-bulls-wore-these-cool-sign-language-uniforms-on-deaf-awareness-night/#respondSun, 13 Jan 2019 18:44:19 +0000http://chicago.suntimes.com/?post_type=cst_article&p=1622898Windy City Bulls wore these cool sign language uniforms on Deaf Awareness NightJon Octeus wearing the uniform used on Deaf Awareness Night. | Photo via Twitter: @NBAGLeagueThe Windy City Bulls put a very cool spin on their jerseys by replacing the text with images of American sign language spelling out “BULLS” as part of Deaf Awareness Night on Saturday.

The G-League affiliate wore the uniforms in a 120-96 loss to the Greensboro Swarm, which came part of a night that included a bobblehead giveaway and an auction with proceeds going to the Illinois Association of the Deaf.

Here’s a look at the special uniforms being worn by guards Brandon Sampson and Jon Octeus:

Not because of the fourth-quarter meltdown by the Bulls (10-33) in the 110-102 loss to the Jazz, but because he was unable to be a part of it.

During the blowout loss to Golden State on Friday night, Portis set a screen for Kris Dunn, and Portis felt that Durant grabbed his right arm and pulled it back on purpose, with an intent to injure. Portis said the elbow area went numb, and after he sat on the bench for a few seconds to collect himself, he verbally confronted Durant.

Coach Jim Boylen tried to squash the incident on Saturday, saying he didn’t think it was malicious. Portis had his own opinion.

“Yeah, that wasn’t inadvertent,’’ Portis said. “If I would have done that I would have got a foul call on me, defensive foul. I guess it’s just who you’re playing against. Everything is officiated different toward whoever it is, but if you look back at the video at the time, it was obvious.’’

Portis did attempt to warm up before the game and wanted to give it a go, but the training staff shut him down.

That seemed to anger Portis even more, especially when he was asked if Durant attempted to apologize.

“Ain’t no apologies in basketball,’’ Portis said. “Nobody feels sorry for nobody. That’s how it goes.’’

Portis added that he feels officials treat him differently because of his practice altercation with former teammate Nikola Mirotic before last season.

“I have that negative put on me like I’m a bad guy,’’ Portis said. “Obviously, everything is officiated differently towards me. You don’t care about that but it’s just what I made it cause of that incident last year. Everybody thinks I’m this bad guy when really I’m a really good dude. Image is everything, and I guess that’s what my image is.

“I expected it. I always play with an edge, play hard, kind of make these facial expressions to make it seem like I was mad all the time on the court, so obviously there’s going to be some carryover at one point when I started playing a lot, but it’s something I couldn’t control. It’s just who I am, play hard on the court, bring an edge. I really can’t control the facial features I play with. It just happens. It’s kind of a gift and a curse.’’

That intensity was missed, especially late, as the Bulls’ bench kept them in the game all night, only to see the starting group enter the game with 7:03 left with a three-point deficit. Utah went on a 13-3 run over the next five minutes.

“Yeah, it’s a big one,’’ he said when discussing his return to the place where he had his first head-coaching job, running the Utah Utes from 2007 to ’11.

The last time the Utes won a conference championship was 2009 (in the Mountain West) under Boylen, and the banner hangs from the rafters in the Jon M. Huntsman Center. So, of course, he’s emotional about the place.

“First of all, I loved it at Utah. I loved it there,’’ Boylen said. “I loved everything about it, and it was very disappointing when that situation didn’t work out [he was fired in ’11]. That being said, I wouldn’t be the coach I am today if that wouldn’t have happened. I know I wouldn’t be here with the Bulls.’’

That’s another reason for Boylen to be emotional. He isn’t just “here with the Bulls.’’ Now, he has more staying power.

A team source told the Sun-Times on Saturday that Boylen has not only received a bump in pay since he took over from Fred Hoiberg on Dec. 3, he also received a contract through 2019-20.

When he was promoted, Boylen was working under his associate head-coaching deal, which paid him just more than $800,000 for the rest of this season and through next season. The Sun-Times reported that Boylen was betting on himself to earn that increase, at least for 2019-20.

The front office appreciated the gesture because it would be paying the remainder of Hoiberg’s $5 million salary this season and another $5 million next season.

Board chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has never been a fan of handing out dead money to former coaches, let alone paying two coaches. So it’s hard to imagine Boylen being removed at the end of the season and the Bulls taking on the salary of a new hire, as well.

It’s simple economics for Boylen’s critics. Though his detractors haven’t been put in checkmate, this news at least puts them in check and has them running out of moves.

And while Boylen has done a good job avoiding discussions about his immediate future, being back in Utah brought back some memories of his past.

“I learned a ton and I grew here,’’ Boylen said. “It helped me become a better coach, a better everything, just going through that process of what I could have done differently, what I could have done better. What I did well, and owning that, but also owning what I needed to improve on. The relationship piece with my [Athletic Director in Chris Hill] was obviously a frustrating thing. Same guy that hired me, same guy that gave me my big extension, was the same guy that let me go. But I loved where it led me.

“I mean three years later we were winning a championship in San Antonio [2014], and now I’m the head coach of the Bulls. So you could say it was a really good thing for me and made me better.’’

]]>https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/source-jim-boylen-has-been-given-a-salary-bump-through-at-least-next-season/feed/0boylen4The Bulls backcourt of Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine have some serious hoop dreamshttps://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/the-bulls-backcourt-of-kris-dunn-and-zach-lavine-have-some-serious-hoop-dreams/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/the-bulls-backcourt-of-kris-dunn-and-zach-lavine-have-some-serious-hoop-dreams/#respondSat, 12 Jan 2019 02:50:50 +0000http://chicago.suntimes.com/?post_type=cst_article&p=1620131The Bulls backcourt of Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine have some serious hoop dreamsOAKLAND, Calif. — Kris Dunn didn’t back down from the idea that the game against the Warriors on Friday would be a measuring stick.

Go ahead and snap that measuring stick.

By the end of the first quarter, it became pretty clear just how much work the Bulls’ young backcourt of Dunn and Zach LaVine has to do even to be mentioned in the same breath as the Warriors’ duo.

Stephen Curry scored 28 points and passed Jason Terry for third on the career three-pointers list, while Klay Thompson scored 30 as the Warriors humiliated the Bulls for the second time this season with a 146-109 beatdown at Oracle Arena.

Curry and Thompson put up those numbers even though eachplayed less than 27 minutes.

As for Dunn and LaVine?

LaVine woke up after a first quarter in which the Bulls trailed 43-17 to finish with 29 points, but Dunn was taken to school, finishing with just six points and a
plus/minus of minus-45.

“It didn’t come easy for them,’’ Dunn said of Curry and Thompson becoming the gold standard. “It took time for them, too. When they first came in the league, they weren’t as talked about as much as other guys were, but they kept working, they kept building that chemistry, and now look where they are. They built a championship team over there, and right now they’re hot. They’ve got the game on smash and you’ve got to go in there and compete.’’

Something the Bulls and their backcourt didn’t do Friday.

Even more disappointing than the final score was how both Dunn and LaVine seemed ready to step up to the challenge. They both had been playing well and were both relatively healthy.

“I know I’m not going to go out there and just lay down,’’ LaVine said.

But Curry and Thompson simply buried the Bulls’ duo.

Before the game, coach Jim Boylen didn’t hesitate when asked if he was sold on Dunn and LaVine.

“I am,’’ Boylen said. “I think we’ve had multiple examples and multiple possessions where they’ve kind of played off each other. The one thing is you’re hard to guard when you have multiple ball-handlers and they both can handle the ball, they both can initiate the offense, they both can complete an offense, they both can receive, so I like that versatility.’’

Quiet days

Boylen said that he has had frequent talks with both general manager Gar Forman and VP of basketball operations John Paxson lately, but those talks have not included any trade possibilities.

“I’ve been focused on coaching the team, focused on getting every ounce of development, learning out of our practices,’’ Boylen said. “I do talk to them about our team. The things I like, the things we’re working on, the things we have to do better, but I have not had discussions on the phone work or those other things.’’

The Sun-Times has reported that the team is shopping Robin Lopez and Jabari Parker as they continue to try to collect draft assets.

Boylen said he always was aware of how lethal a passer Warriors big man Draymond Green was, especially because he recruited him back in Boylen’s Michigan State days.

“People don’t realize that, but he was a point guard at his high school,’’ Boylen said. “When he was a sophomore they started him at point, so he’s a skilled guy and a willing passer.’’

]]>https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/the-bulls-backcourt-of-kris-dunn-and-zach-lavine-have-some-serious-hoop-dreams/feed/0dunn4If the Bulls rebuild is going to gain traction Lauri Markkanen has to be betterhttps://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/if-the-bulls-rebuild-is-going-to-gain-traction-lauri-markkanen-has-to-be-better/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/if-the-bulls-rebuild-is-going-to-gain-traction-lauri-markkanen-has-to-be-better/#respondFri, 11 Jan 2019 23:58:52 +0000http://chicago.suntimes.com/?post_type=cst_article&p=1619867If the Bulls rebuild is going to gain traction Lauri Markkanen has to be betterOAKLAND, Calif. — There’s a ceiling in sight for Bulls guard Zach LaVine. While he has shown flashes of All-Star potential, superstar potential may be a stretch.

Enter Lauri Markkanen.

A loss in Portland on Wednesday night and a visit with the Warriors on Friday night — the first two games of a five-game road trip — were fresh reminders for the rebuilding Bulls of just how important it is to have a superstar on the roster.

Markkanen is a 7-footer, is physical in the paint and can shoot like a two-guard from the outside — checking all the boxes of an NBA unicorn. An injury to his right elbow in training camp cost him 10 weeks of the season, but Markkanen admits he has to start becoming a force.

“I’ve got to look in the mirror at myself first and [ask], ‘How can I do better?’ ” he said. “I think it all starts with that.”

There’s also still a glaring problem with the number of touches Markkanen gets per game. Teammates too often seem to forget he’s on the roster. And Markkanen, in his second season, could be asking for the ball more. Entering Friday, he averaged 17.6 shot attempts in the last three Bulls victories, but in four of their last five losses, he averaged 12.2 attempts.

Do teammates need to find him more, or is it on him to be more aggressive and demand the ball?

“I’m sure it’s both,’’ he said. “And if there’s times where guys don’t find me, they will find me once I am more aggressive and stuff. We’re all good friends with each other, so we talk about everything. This is still a new system, so the sample size is not so big. Just try and stay positive and keep an open mind about it.

“There’s games where I get the ball a lot, and there’s games where I don’t. So I just try to control what I can control. Play defense and do my best on that end of the court, and I know the offense will follow. It hasn’t been really consistent yet, but I’m sure that will come.”

It had better. Coach Jim Boylen knows that, having twice said after recent losses that it was his fault Markkanen didn’t touch the ball more.

“It’s not just a him thing — it’s a team thing,” Boylen said. “I’d like him to be a little more greedy. I’d like him to be a little smarter with some of his possessions to get a quality shot. It’s part of the process. He missed games last year. He’s missed games this year. He’s probably just getting to a full first season right now. That’s not an excuse, but it’s the reality of it. I think he’s got to be timely in what he does, but also aggressive.”

Because a good Markkanen makes the Bulls tick. Before Friday’s game against the Warriors, Markkanen averaged 24.8 points in the five victories he has played in; he averaged 14 points in the 13 losses.

The NBA is a superstar-based business, and since the Bulls can’t land one in free agency, they have to grow one.

“I agree — he’s a huge part of where we’re going,” Boylen said. “We need to help him, and he needs to help himself, and we need to play better.”

]]>https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/if-the-bulls-rebuild-is-going-to-gain-traction-lauri-markkanen-has-to-be-better/feed/0lauri1The first half is over, and Bulls GM Gar Forman’s employment is still a surprisehttps://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/the-first-half-is-over-and-bulls-gm-gar-forman-employed-is-still-a-surprise/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/the-first-half-is-over-and-bulls-gm-gar-forman-employed-is-still-a-surprise/#respondThu, 10 Jan 2019 21:46:46 +0000http://chicago.suntimes.com/?post_type=cst_article&p=1617403The first half is over, and Bulls GM Gar Forman’s employment is still a surprisePORTLAND, Ore. — Despite all the screams from the outside the last several years, Bulls insiders have been consistent when it comes to general manager Gar Forman and his job security.

It has always been believed that Forman was a part of the family in the eyes of ownership.

Still, this season was a bit of an eye-opener. Not only was it reiterated that Forman is embraced by the family, but he’s actually untouchable.

No other GM in the NBA would still have a job with Forman’s track record. The final straw should have been on Dec. 3, when coach Fred Hoiberg was fired. Forman handpicked Hoiberg months before former coach Tom Thibodeau was ousted — again, by Forman.

Hoiberg was Forman’s guy, but once the mild-mannered coach figured out Forman’s manipulative ways and asked those above the GM to keep him from hovering around the team and coaching staff, it was only a matter of time before they would part ways.

Despite all of this, Forman, who was quietly rewarded with a contract extension last year, came out unscathed after Hoiberg was let go.

With the Bulls now at the halfway point with a 10-31 record, Forman’s untouchable standing with his bosses still comes in as the biggest surprise.

First half MVP: Zach LaVine

He’s healthy, and at least through the first month of the season was making a case to be an All-Star. If it was up to the Bulls, though, Lauri Markkanen would be the team MVP. But he’s still trying to find his shot since recovering from elbow surgery and has been tentative at times to take over games.

The Bulls needed defense and outside shooting this season, but Parker has provided neither. Actually, a source close to Hoiberg joked that when Parker was signed in the offseason, it would eventually get Hoiberg fired. So far, it’s not a funny joke.

Parker’s return to Chicago was hyped as a homecoming, but now smells of a poorly executed PR stunt.

Biggest injury: Lauri Markkanen

There have been numerous injuries this season, but none reshaped the path of the organization more than Markkanen’s elbow injury suffered in training camp.

“In fairness to him, it’s safe to say that thing isn’t 100 percent yet,’’ coach Jim Boylen said Thursday of Markkanen’s elbow. “Is it close? Yeah. It’s gotta stick in his mind. That was a very serious injury, and maybe what people don’t realize is that it is a very painful injury. Yeah, it’s going to take some time.’’

Best moment: Boylen back in San Antonio

Not only did Boylen get the win against his former team where he was an assistant coach for several years, but it showed that his players were starting to buy in to his plan after well-publicized pushback from players was squashed a week earlier.

Worst moment: Letting Hoiberg go before everyone was healthy

Hoiberg was led to believe that he would have the opportunity to stick around once he had a healthy roster. Whether he deserved to be fired has been debated, but the timing of it was so Bulls.

]]>https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/the-first-half-is-over-and-bulls-gm-gar-forman-employed-is-still-a-surprise/feed/0forman1Critics of Bulls coach Jim Boylen’s offense need to look at the rosterhttps://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/critics-of-bulls-coach-jim-boylens-offense-need-to-look-at-the-roster-structure/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/critics-of-bulls-coach-jim-boylens-offense-need-to-look-at-the-roster-structure/#respondThu, 10 Jan 2019 03:26:38 +0000http://chicago.suntimes.com/?post_type=cst_article&p=1615743Critics of Bulls coach Jim Boylen’s offense need to look at the rosterPORTLAND, Ore. — Bulls coach Jim Boylen faces the topic almost daily and recognizes it before the question is halfway asked, snickering when a reporter gets to the words “offense” and “three-point shooting.”

He heard it again Wednesday before the Bulls’ 124-112 loss to the Trail Blazers to start a five-city road trip: how the Bulls have moved away from the long-range shot since Boylen replaced Fred Hoiberg as coach last month.

“What we haven’t done is finished very well at those plays at the rim,” Boylen said. “That’s where we have to grow. Then it’s finishing at the rim, maybe the defense takes it away, and now you spray out [to the three-point line].

“Who are we spraying out to? Well, we’re going to keep working at that.”

The Bulls were efficient with the three-pointer through three quarters against the Trail Blazers, shooting 7-for-14, but a 2-for-8 fourth quarter exposed it again as weakness.

Who are they spraying out to? It’s the question that gets overlooked by critics of Boylen’s style. Asking the Bulls to shoot more threes, as is the trend in the NBA, is like asking Cody Parkey to make more field goals for the Bears. Neither is considered particularly good at it.

Entering Wednesday, the Bulls’ most accurate three-point shooter was Lauri Markkanen, with just over 40 percent, which put him at 25th in the NBA. He went 0-for-3 from long range Wednesday, finishing with just 10 points. As a team, the Bulls ranked 19th out of 30 teams in three-point percentage (.346) but were 26th in three-point attempts per game, as Boylen is trying to get them to focus on shooting fewer threes, but higher-quality ones.

“We’re not [good at contested threes],” Boylen said. “We have some solid in-the-paint numbers, but our [efficiency] rating on those possessions isn’t great because we don’t finish or we don’t spray out, or we do spray out and we don’t make it. So it looks like it’s empty, but to me it’s not. I see growth, and I see development.”

As a reminder of what happens when these Bulls shoot a lot more from outside, jump back to last season, when they were sixth in attempts (31.1 per game) but 21st in percentage (.355). Denzel Valentine (.386) was the most accurate three-point shooter on the roster, finishing 50th in the league.

The players, too, are aware they lack true outside shooters.

“Sometimes you don’t have the personnel to become a team that’s in the top 10 in three-point attempts, and makes, and field-goal percentage,” guard Zach LaVine said. “I think we can take more, but we’d have to be hunting them, and certain guys have to hunt them.”

Not all was bad coming out of Wednesday’s loss. Rookie Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 22 points on 7-for-9 shooting, hit a three and went 7-for-7 from the free-throw line.